Signaling apparatus.



Patented Sept. 2, |902.

J. MEAD. SIGNALING APPARATUS.'

(Application med Nov. 5. 1901.)

(No Model.)

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lllarrrnn @ramas Parenti @prima JAMES R. MEAD, OF IJEVES, DELAVRE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VILLIAM E. VEASEY, OF LEWES, DELAVARE.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,487, dated September 2, 1902.

Application filed November 5, 1901. Serial No. 81,243. (No model.)

1'0 (LM whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES R. MEAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewes, in the county of Sussex and State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Signaling Apparatus, of which t-he following is a specification.

Ordinarily marine and other signaling has been carried on through the medium of fiags hoisted to an elevation by suitable fiag-halyards. As each Hag is connected at one end only to its halyard, the disposition of the fiag` is entirely dependent upon the direction of the Wind, and therefore the flag may not ily in a position to be conveniently read by the party to whom themessage is to be delivered. Moreover, the fluttering of the flag renders the same difficult to be read, and in the event of a calm the flag hangs downwardly against the supporting-mast, and thereby displaysits color only. Thus the flag system of signaling is unreliable and in any event difficult to read.

In view of the disadvantages pointed out it is the object of the present invention to provide for displaying signals in such a position as to be effectively exposed to the party for whom the message is intended independent of the direction of the wind prevailing at It is furthermore designed to overcome fluttering of the signals and to conveniently adjust the same so as to effectively display them to any point of the compass with respect to the signal-support as a center.

It will of course be understood that it is not designed to employ a new or particularly adapted signal-code, as the device is adapted for displaying the usual signal-dage disposed one above the other in the ordinary manner, but in addition thereto to overcome the fi uttering thereof.

Another object is to provide for the convenient raising and lowering of the signal flags or elements andalso'to facilitate the interchange ofposition thereof, so that the range of the code may not be limited in any manner whatsoever.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination i Aand arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in theaccom panying drawings,and particularly pointed our in the appended claims, it beingr understood` that changes in the form, proportion,

size, and minor details may be made Within the scope of the claimsv without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages ofthe invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a signaling` apparatus embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View thereof. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a suitable base 1, which is set in the ground or supported upon an elevated platform, as may be desired, and upon this base there' is rotatably mounted a mast or tower, preferably in the form of a substantially rectangular frame, comprising opposite `upright side members 2 and the respective top and bottom sills or cross-bars 3 and 4. The bottom sill or cross-bar is pivotally mounted upon the center of the base by means of a suitable pivot connection 5, and the upper cross-bar is also pivotally mounted toa cross-head 6, located above the frame or tower and connected to the top by means of a suitable pivot-bolt 7, there being a washer 8 interposed between the cross-head and the cross-bar.V The cross-head is held against movement by means of the guy-rods or cables 9, which extend from each end of the crosshead and are anchored in the ground in any suitable manner.. By this means the frame or tower is mounted to rotate upon a vertical central axis, and its rotation may be conveniently effected by means of a suitable handle 10, inclined laterally and upwardly from the lower en d of the frame. The rotatable, frame may be locked in any position in any suitable way, preferably by means of'an interlocking connection between the frame and the baseas, for instance, by a locking pin or bolt ll, carried by the bottom cross-bar and adapted to adj ustably engage a series of sockets or recesses l2, formed in the top face of the base IOO f vided with any suitable operating meansas, for instance, a crank-handle 1G, which is conveniently accessible from the ground or other support upon which the tower or frame may be placed. Upon'the halyards are mounted a plurality of signal-carrying devices, each of which comprises top and bottom members or cross-barsl7 and 18, respectively, the opposite ends of which are slotted or bifurcated, as at 19, so as to slidably embrace the respective guide-rods 20, which are carried by the opposite edges of the respective sides of the upright frame or tower and are offset therefrom sufficiently to permit of the vertical movement of the cross-bars, which latter are connected to the halyards, as indicated at 2l.

The inner faces of the cross-bars are provided with the respective corresponding open-ended longitudinal grooves 22 and 23, which are designed for the detachable reception of a signal-slide 24, preferably comprising an open rectangular frame, to one or both sides of which is applied a covering of canvas, bunting, or other suitable material 25, of different colors and designs, according to the signalcode, thereby to form one of the signals. However, I also contemplate applying the present signal-ilags directly to the slide or frame, preferably by sewing the flags to the textile covering of the slides.

It will of course be understood that the signal-carrying devices are provided at opposite sides of the tower or frame, so that either side of the latter may be turned into position for displaying the signals, and by the provision of a plurality of such holders a plurality of signals may be displayed one above the other in the usual manner.

As I contemplate employing a plurality of holders, one above the other, I have made the signal-slides horizontally insertible and re- -movable,l so that one signal-holder may not interfere with the signal-slide of the other, as would be the case if the signal-slides were removable vertically.

It will here be noted that there is no fluttering of the signal, as the latter is held practically rigid by the frame or slide, and thereby the signal is etfectually displayed, and no mistake can be made within a reasonable distance. Moreover, the pairs of cross bars forming the signal-holders are arranged at equal intervals, and the signal-frames are all of one size, so that any frame may be fitted to any of the holders, whereby the signals are readily interchangeable, and the range of the code vis not limited in any manner whatsoever.

In displayingthe signal it will of course be understood that the supporting frame or tower is rotatably adjusted upon its vertical aXis, so as to bring the signals in such a position as will most effectively display the same to the party for Whom the message is intended, and in view of the practically rigid nature of the signal the latter is not aected by the prevailing wind, and neither does a calm have any effect upon the flags as now commonly displayed. l

Although the present device has been particularly designed for marine signaling and to be set up on the shore for signaling vessels at sea, it may also be effectively employed upon vessels and, in fact, it may be used in any locality for signaling purposes of any character.

In view of the fact/that the signal-holders are located at opposite sides of the mast or tower it will be understood that while the signals are beingdisplayed upon one side of the device other signals maybe set upon the other side of the device, so that after the first message has been delivered the second signal may be immediately displayed by merely reversing the mast or tower.

That I claim isl. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a support which is rotatable upon its vertical axis, of vertically-movable signalholders carried by opposite sides of the support, a plurality of signals for interchangeable engagement with the holders, and means for elevating and maintaining the signalholder at one side of the support lin an elevated and displayed position while the signalholder at the opposite side of the support is held in a depressed position for receiving a signal.

2. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a support which is rotatable upon its vertical axis, of vertically-slidable signalholders carried by opposite sides of the support and movable from the bottom to the top thereof and vice versa, a plurality of signals for interchangeable engagement with the holders, and means for raising and lowering the signal-holders and to maintain the holder at one side of the support in an elevated and displayed position while the signal-holder at the opposite side of the support is in a depressed position for receiving a signal preparatory to being elevated.

3. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a support which is rotatable upon its vertical axis, of vertically-movable signalholders carried by opposite sides of the support and provided with guideways, a plurality of signalslides for interchangeable engagement with the holders, and means for maintaining the signal-holder at one side of the support in an elevated and displayed po- TOO IIO

sition, while the signal-holder at the opposite side of thesnpport is in a depressed position for receiving a signal-slide.

4. In a signaling apparatus, the com bination `with an upright rotatable support, of signal-holding means at opposite sides of the support, and means for simultaneously raising the signal-holding means at one side of the support and lowering the' same upon the opposite side thereof, whereby signals may be displayed in an elevated position at one side of the support while other signals are being set at the lower portion of the opposite side of the support, the support being rotatable to display the latter setof signals when elevated.

5. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with an upright support which is rotatably adjustable upon a vertical axis, of an upstanding endless halyard carried by the support and working in opposite directions on opposite sides thereof, and signal-holders carried by the halyard and located at opposite sides of the support, whereby signals may be simultaneously elevated at one side of the support and hauled down at the opposite side thereof, and signals may be set at one side while other signals may be displayed at the opposite side of the support.

6. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of an upstanding rotatable support, means for adjustably rotating the same, a pair of upstanding endless halyards having corresponding portions at opposite sides of the support, and signals having their opposite ends connected to corresponding portions ofthe respective halyards, whereby nais may be set upon one side of the support while other signals are being displayed at the opposite side thereof.

7. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with an upstanding support, of a pair of upright rigid guides carried by the support, opposite upstanding halyards carried by the support, a signal-holder having substantially horizontal top and bottom cross-bars connected respectively to the opposite halyards with their opposite ends slidably mounted upon the respective guides and provided in their inner faces with corresponding openended grooves, and a signal-slide removably fitted in the grooves.

S. A signaling apparatus, comprising a mast or tower, a rigid vertical guide carried by the tower, a vertically-adjustable signalholder slidably mounted upon the guide and provided with a substantially horizontal open-ended guideway, and a removable signal-slide carried by the guideway and removable horizontally outward through the open end thereof.

9. A signaling apparatus comprising a mast or tower, a vertical rigid guide carried thereby, a vertically-adjustable signal-holder having corresponding substantially horizontal open-ended grooves, and a signal-slide removably fitted in the grooves.

l0. A signaling apparatus, comprising a mast or tower, a pair of vertical rigid guides carried thereby, a signal-holder having top carried by the guideway, and means for raising and lowering the holder.

I2. A signaling apparatus, comprising a mast or tower, opposite upright guide-rods carried thereby, a signal-holder having substantially horizontal topand bottom crossbars, which are provided with terminali openings receiving the guide-rods, and also having corresponding open-ended grooves in their inner faces, a signal-slide removably fitted in the grooves, and means for raising and lowering the holder.

13. A signaling apparatus, comprising a mast or tower, opposite upright guide-rods carried by the tower, a drum carried by the tower, guides mounted near the opposite end of the tower, endless halyards running over the guides and the drum, means for rotating the drum, signal-holders carried by the halyards, and slidably mounted upon the guide-rods and removable signal-slides for the holder.

14. A signaling apparatus, comprising a mast or tower which is adjustably rotatable upon a vertical axis, a pair of halyards carried by and movable with the tower, and a signal connected at opposite ends to the halyards to prevent fluttering of the signal.

l5. In a signaling apparatus, a tower comprising a substantially rectangular frame which is adjustably rotatable upon a vertical axis, opposite upright guides carried by the frame,asignalholder havingits opposite ends slidably mounted upon the guides, and a pair of halyards for raising and lowering the signal-holder, said halyards being connected to opposite ends of the signal.

I6. In a signaling apparatus, atower comprising a substantially rectangular frame which is rotatably adjustable upon a vertical axis, upright guide-rods carried by the opposite sides of the frame, a signal-holder slidably mounted at opposite ends upon the guides, a drum mounted within the lower part of the frame, means for rotating the drum, a pair of pulley-blocks mounted upon the upper portion of the frame, and endless halyards reeved through the pulley-blocks and around the drum, the signal-holder being connected to the halyards.

17. In a signaling apparatus, a tower comprising a substantially rectangular frame which is adjustably rotatable upon a vertical axis, upright guide-rods carried by and ollset IOO IIO

LII

from the opposite sides of the upright side members of the frame, signal-holders located at opposite sides of the frame and slidably connected to the respective guide-rods, and means for raising and lowering the signalholders.

18. In a signaling apparatus, a tower comprising a substantially rectangular frame which is adjustably rotatable on a vertical axis, a drum mounted within one end portion of the frame, means for operating the drum, guide-pulleys at the opposite end ofthe frame, halyards reeved through the guide-pulleys and around the drum, and signal-holders carried by the halyards and located at opposite sides of the frame.

19. A signaling apparatus, comprising a base, a rotatable mast or tower mounted there` on, means carried by and adjustable upon the tower into and out of engagement with the base to forni an adjustable interlocking engagement between the mast or tower and the base, and a signal-holder carried by the mast or tower.

20. A signaling apparatus, comprising a base having a circular series of sockets in its upper face, a rotatable mast or tower mounted upon the base and concentrically with respect to the circular series of sockets, a locking-bolt carried by the mast or tower and in operative relation to the series of sockets,

and a signal-holder carried by the mast or tower.

2l. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a base, of an upright substantially rectangular frame mounted to rotate upon the base on a central vertical axis, an adjust- .able interlocking connection between the frame and the base, a drum mounted within the lower end of the frame, means for operating the drum, guide-pulleys mounted within the upper end ot' the frame, halyards reeved through the guide-pulleys and over the drum, guide-rods carried bythe opposite edges of both side pieces ot` the frame, pairs of signal-holding cross-bars having terminal perforations receiving the respective guiderods, and also provided in their inner faces with corresponding open-ended grooves, signal-slides removably tted in the grooves of the cross-bars, each cross-bar being connected to the halyards, a cross-head swiveled to the upper end of the frame, and guys connected to the opposite ends of the cross-head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. MEAD.

Witnesses:

PHILIP F. LARNER, JOHN H. SIGGERS. 

